The Gambia will particpate in the West African Elite Model Look 2010 competition to be held in Dakar, Senegal on 25th September.

Ahead of this competition, a big audition to select the best three girls that would  represent the country for the first time since the inception of the Elite Model Look over 28 years ago was held on Saturday  at the Sheraton Resort & Spa in Brufut.The Elite Model Look is a network of 37 offices worldwide and is believed to be  not only the biggest modelling contest in the world  but also the most prestigious and glamorous contest around the world with a worldwide media coverage in over 80 countries.

The  Dakar event will determine those that would be qualified for the international event to be held on  10th October in Shanghai, China. The Saturday event which was sponsored by Africell, Gambega and Sheraton Hotel was graced by Modou Joof, deputy permanent secretary at the ministry of Tourism and Culture and Alieu Jammeh, deputy permanent secretary responsible for the Youth at the ministry of Youth and Sports.The competition was  a well contested one involving 65 young girls between the ages of 15 and 23. At the end of the competition, three lucky girls namely; Yassin Jagne, Haddy Bah and Jainaba Ceesay were finally selected to represent The Gambia in Dakar.

Speaking to this reporter shortly after the event, Alieu Jammeh, the deputy permanent secretary responsible for the Youth  at the ministry of Youth and Sports said it is a move towards youth development, adding that, any  activity of that nature aimed at developing the youth is welcome by his ministry. He pointed out that, the event is also an avenue to assist young people to express themselves and  inculcate leadership skills and confidence in themselves.Jammeh added that, such a move is also an avenue for generating revenue as the winners of such events are always given consolation prizes.

He however expressed the need for the three girls to be well coached and polished by modelling experts before the grand event in Senegal noting that the event is going to be a highly competitive one. He urged the three Gambian representatives to be confident and  raise the Gambian flag high when they go to Dakar. He finally wished them good luck.For her part, Sokhna Thiam, director general of Elite Model Look in Senegal also expressed her satisfaction with the selected girls, adding that they possessed the qualities to win in any competition. She therefore thanked the sponsors of the event and the Gambia government for making it possible for them to introduce the Elite Model Look in The Gambia.
 
According to her, this is the 28th edition of Elite Model Look globally but the fourth edition  which Senegal has been given the license to hold. She further  hinted that, the participants will be well equipped prior to the competition itself as they will spend ten days in Dakar ahead of the event with a lot of activities to prepare them adequately.